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1267877e-48c9-47d6-8705-ea169a03a9f7 Pool Lifeguard of the Year Royal Life Saving Awards Gala Description Recognising an individual lifeguard who has demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and professionalism in their duties. Award Criteria For entry into this category submissions should answer the following: Skill and Dedication: Describe specific instances where the nominee has demonstrated exceptional lifeguarding skills and dedication. Professionalism : Provide examples of how they have maintained professionalism and leadership in challenging situations and/or exceptional customer service. Safety and Facility Improvements: Outline how they demonstrate a strong commitment to safety and overall contribution to the facility. Achievements in Rescue Application and/or Professional Development: Detail any significant achievements in aquatic or CPR rescues or a proactive approach to training and professional development. Include relevant dates, outcomes, and any recognition received. < Previous Nominations for 2024/25 have now closed Next > Buy Tickets Your Details Nomination Select Category Upload Submit Nomination Your nomination has been submitted

Royal Life Saving has a great history of conducting lifesaving and water safety activity in regional NSW. This tradition will now expand to the establishment of a full-time training and development officer to be based in Tamworth, who will guide and oversee our operations in the North West of the state. The role is a diverse one and one that requires experience and knowledge of water safety education, trends in vocational training, as well as being passionate and current with industry trends within the aquatic sector. Gary Johnson is a name many people will recognise and we are excited to announce that Gary will head up our operations within this area and he ticks off on all the requirements for the role. If you haven’t met Gary at a conference, over a webinar, or at one of our training courses please read on as Gary has experienced a wonderful, colourful and fulfilling life based around aquatics. Q&A with Gary Johnson: Welcome to Royal Life Saving Gary! We’ve designed some random questions that we thought our readers would enjoy. Do you remember your first experience at a RLS course? Yep, I was in year 4 (1980) when I did my Intermediate Award at Sutherland Swim Centre. To us, the dizzy heights of a Bronze Medallion were the pinnacle. Then I did my first PLG Course at the Gunnedah Pool in 1997 with probably the worst trainer I’ve ever met. A rookie named Jason Phillips. I remember a young Gary Johnson attending his first Trainer workshop in Grafton in 1998. You haven’t put on one extra kilo – what’s the secret to staying fit and healthy? I’m one of those lucky people who got a good dose of the skinny gene. If you could invite 3 people to a dinner party (alive or dead) who would they be? The Attenbro, my convict ancestor James Johnson and Derryn Brown. From your 30 + years of volunteering and working within the aquatic industry what are the Pox (not the best aspect) and Rox (highlights) of your career? The worse was not seeing a kid in time to successfully resuscitate him. Ironically, if that hadn’t happened, I’d never have asked myself the questions that lead me to learn so much. Highlights… there’s nothing like presenting internationally and the friendships you develop from that. Dr Tom Griffiths was my unicorn… my ultimate hero. I could hardly speak when I first met him. Now we’re drinking buddies. Love the guy. You are a passionate volunteer for your local community and in particular your role with the RFS. What are some aspects of volunteering that can assist your professional career? Understanding the complexities of decision making within the constraints of minimal time and serious consequences. The importance of reassuring people. The importance of having strategies to manage critical incident stress. As a committed Conference attendee and speaker, your cupboard at home would be full of conference satchels and pens. How does your lovely wife Vanessa, put up with all the freebies you hoard, and what is the best thing about attending a conference? I used to give all my freebies to my kids. They’d think it was Christmas. Lanyards… I’ve kept the lanyards. The best thing is usually the locations. How good’s a beach side resort? Do you remember your first conference as a Speaker and how did you over come the usual nerves of presenting to the room? I definitely remember it. You can’t be too prepared. Feel the fear and do it anyway. A schooner beforehand doesn’t hurt either. Your presentations are known for their ability to engage, motivate and inspire people in the room and I’m sure you get plenty of emails and messages of support. Who is one of the people that have inspired you as a presenter? I saw Bruce Sullivan present at an ARI conference and thought… I wanna be like that. An energetic, motivated speaker who doesn’t use notes and makes excellent use of pauses. Peter Baines was another speaker that had a big impact on me. Dr Justin Sempsrott is another speaker that I’ll go and watch every opportunity I get. These guys are the masters of toeing the line between presenting and performing without us really noticing. Long after people have forgotten what you said, they’ll remember how you made them feel. You’ve presented and worked in various countries such as New Zealand, the US and the UK. What is one highlight from your time spent abroad?You know how the guy at the party with the accent gets all the attention of the girls in the room? Well, you can be that guy. You’ve got the accent and the time difference means you can party all night. Particularly in the US where I found they love Australians. I could literally walk into a bar and by the time I’d opened my mouth and ordered a beer, people would want to talk to me. You live on the outskirts of the bustling village of Bendemeer on a beautiful property approx. 30 mins from Tamworth. Pox and Rox of living in Bendemeer? My family and the bush ground me. It’s fun acting like the rockstar, but I need to be Gary Johnson. It’s what my soul needs to allow me to do the things I do. Covid lock down on a farm is heaven. The worst part… mobile data for internet access can be painful. No Netflix for us. I’ve seen your fashion sense outside of Council and RLS attire and it’s a little outside of the normal business shirt and slacks. Have you always been passionate for tie died shirts, rock star jeans and Willy Wonker jackets? Hell yeah. I hear people say you only live once. Not true. You only die once. When the occasion arises, I’m equally happy dressed like Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman or an extra in the video clip to The safety Dance. Did I mention I like to sing? For some of us the eighties just never left. 20 July 2021 RLS gets a new regional office complete with a local legend Training & Development < Back to News Royal Life Saving has a great history of conducting lifesaving and water safety activity in regional NSW. This tradition will now expand to the establishment of a full-time training and development officer to be based in Tamworth, who will guide and oversee our operations in the North West of the state. The role is a diverse one and one that requires experience and knowledge of water safety education, trends in vocational training, as well as being passionate and current with industry trends within the aquatic sector. Gary Johnson is a name many people will recognise and we are excited to announce that Gary will head up our operations within this area and he ticks off on all the requirements for the role. If you haven’t met Gary at a conference, over a webinar, or at one of our training courses please read on as Gary has experienced a wonderful, colourful and fulfilling life based around aquatics. Q&A with Gary Johnson: Welcome to Royal Life Saving Gary! We’ve designed some random questions that we thought our readers would enjoy. Do you remember your first experience at a RLS course? Yep, I was in year 4 (1980) when I did my Intermediate Award at Sutherland Swim Centre. To us, the dizzy heights of a Bronze Medallion were the pinnacle. Then I did my first PLG Course at the Gunnedah Pool in 1997 with probably the worst trainer I’ve ever met. A rookie named Jason Phillips. I remember a young Gary Johnson attending his first Trainer workshop in Grafton in 1998. You haven’t put on one extra kilo – what’s the secret to staying fit and healthy? I’m one of those lucky people who got a good dose of the skinny gene. If you could invite 3 people to a dinner party (alive or dead) who would they be? The Attenbro, my convict ancestor James Johnson and Derryn Brown. From your 30 + years of volunteering and working within the aquatic industry what are the Pox (not the best aspect) and Rox (highlights) of your career? The worse was not seeing a kid in time to successfully resuscitate him. Ironically, if that hadn’t happened, I’d never have asked myself the questions that lead me to learn so much. Highlights… there’s nothing like presenting internationally and the friendships you develop from that. Dr Tom Griffiths was my unicorn… my ultimate hero. I could hardly speak when I first met him. Now we’re drinking buddies. Love the guy. You are a passionate volunteer for your local community and in particular your role with the RFS. What are some aspects of volunteering that can assist your professional career? Understanding the complexities of decision making within the constraints of minimal time and serious consequences. The importance of reassuring people. The importance of having strategies to manage critical incident stress. As a committed Conference attendee and speaker, your cupboard at home would be full of conference satchels and pens. How does your lovely wife Vanessa, put up with all the freebies you hoard, and what is the best thing about attending a conference? I used to give all my freebies to my kids. They’d think it was Christmas. Lanyards… I’ve kept the lanyards. The best thing is usually the locations. How good’s a beach side resort? Do you remember your first conference as a Speaker and how did you over come the usual nerves of presenting to the room? I definitely remember it. You can’t be too prepared. Feel the fear and do it anyway. A schooner beforehand doesn’t hurt either. Your presentations are known for their ability to engage, motivate and inspire people in the room and I’m sure you get plenty of emails and messages of support. Who is one of the people that have inspired you as a presenter? I saw Bruce Sullivan present at an ARI conference and thought… I wanna be like that. An energetic, motivated speaker who doesn’t use notes and makes excellent use of pauses. Peter Baines was another speaker that had a big impact on me. Dr Justin Sempsrott is another speaker that I’ll go and watch every opportunity I get. These guys are the masters of toeing the line between presenting and performing without us really noticing. Long after people have forgotten what you said, they’ll remember how you made them feel. You’ve presented and worked in various countries such as New Zealand, the US and the UK. What is one highlight from your time spent abroad? You know how the guy at the party with the accent gets all the attention of the girls in the room? Well, you can be that guy. You’ve got the accent and the time difference means you can party all night. Particularly in the US where I found they love Australians. I could literally walk into a bar and by the time I’d opened my mouth and ordered a beer, people would want to talk to me. You live on the outskirts of the bustling village of Bendemeer on a beautiful property approx. 30 mins from Tamworth. Pox and Rox of living in Bendemeer? My family and the bush ground me. It’s fun acting like the rockstar, but I need to be Gary Johnson. It’s what my soul needs to allow me to do the things I do. Covid lock down on a farm is heaven. The worst part… mobile data for internet access can be painful. No Netflix for us. I’ve seen your fashion sense outside of Council and RLS attire and it’s a little outside of the normal business shirt and slacks. Have you always been passionate for tie died shirts, rock star jeans and Willy Wonker jackets? Hell yeah. I hear people say you only live once. Not true. You only die once. When the occasion arises, I’m equally happy dressed like Hugh Jackman in The Greatest Showman or an extra in the video clip to The safety Dance. Did I mention I like to sing? For some of us the eighties just never left. Previous Next < Back to News Related Posts 1,800 NSW Teachers Equipped with Lifesaving Skills Ahead of Summer News and Media Emerging Swim Teachers Dive into a Day of Learning at the 2026 Swimposium News and Media Record ClubGRANTS Support Helps Royal Life Saving NSW Reach More Communities News and Media

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After huge success in 2021, National Foundation of Australia-China Relations (NFACR) and ACYA (Australia-China Youth Association), with the support of Royal Life Saving and Surf Life Saving NSW, delivered the Beach Smarts for Life Program for a second consecutive year. The free program is the perfect opportunity for our Chinese international student’s community to learn water safety skills so that we can all enjoy the beach together safely this summer. The program ran over 2 weeks at Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. The event consisted of · Basic CPR traning · In-Water Activiies · Beach Safety session · Lunch and networking For Royal Life Saving, the highlight of the event was being able to provide an in-land water safety talk and CPR awareness training in Mandarin, with all presentation materials translated into Chinese for the participants. In in additional collaboration with Surf Life Saving NSW, Department of Primary Industries, NSW Maritime and Sutherland Shire Council delivered a water Safety event at Gunnamatta Park last month. Together the respective parties delivered practical safety tips and information on how to enjoy the water and associated activities safely. Data from the Western Sydney Drowning Report identified over a 10 year average, 57% of drowning deaths being persons born overseas, with the Chinese community being one of the highest populations represented in this group. Programs such as the Beach Smarts for Life are essential to the ongoing education of our multicultural communities. At Royal Life Saving it is our goal to ensure all Australians can enjoy the water safely and understand the conditions and risks of the many different aquatic environments both on the coast, in our aquatic facilities and backyard pools, and our inland waterways. For further information on our water safety programs and campaigns for Cultural and Linguistic Diverse Communities, please contact our Cultural Engagement Coordinator Ying Fan: yingfan@royalnsw.com.au 6 Dec 2022 Royal Life Saving collaborate with Key stakeholders to deliver water safety workshops Drowning Prevention < Back to News After huge success in 2021, National Foundation of Australia-China Relations (NFACR) and ACYA (Australia-China Youth Association), with the support of Royal Life Saving and Surf Life Saving NSW, delivered the Beach Smarts for Life Program for a second consecutive year. The free program is the perfect opportunity for our Chinese international student’s community to learn water safety skills so that we can all enjoy the beach together safely this summer. The program ran over 2 weeks at Coogee Surf Life Saving Club. The event consisted of · Basic CPR traning · In-Water Activiies · Beach Safety session · Lunch and networking For Royal Life Saving, the highlight of the event was being able to provide an in-land water safety talk and CPR awareness training in Mandarin, with all presentation materials translated into Chinese for the participants. In in additional collaboration with Surf Life Saving NSW, Department of Primary Industries, NSW Maritime and Sutherland Shire Council delivered a water Safety event at Gunnamatta Park last month. Together the respective parties delivered practical safety tips and information on how to enjoy the water and associated activities safely. Data from the Western Sydney Drowning Report identified over a 10 year average, 57% of drowning deaths being persons born overseas, with the Chinese community being one of the highest populations represented in this group. Programs such as the Beach Smarts for Life are essential to the ongoing education of our multicultural communities. At Royal Life Saving it is our goal to ensure all Australians can enjoy the water safely and understand the conditions and risks of the many different aquatic environments both on the coast, in our aquatic facilities and backyard pools, and our inland waterways. For further information on our water safety programs and campaigns for Cultural and Linguistic Diverse Communities, please contact our Cultural Engagement Coordinator Ying Fan: yingfan@royalnsw.com.au Previous Next < Back to News Related Posts 1,800 NSW Teachers Equipped with Lifesaving Skills Ahead of Summer News and Media Emerging Swim Teachers Dive into a Day of Learning at the 2026 Swimposium News and Media Record ClubGRANTS Support Helps Royal Life Saving NSW Reach More Communities News and Media

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The Swim 4 Life holiday program provides equitable access opportunities for ACT children to participate in a variety of aquatic programs regardless of their background or financial situation. Over 800 participants, who may otherwise have missed out on basic water safety education, have been nominated by local community partners for inclusion in the Swim 4 Life program since it was first established in 2010. ​Swim 4 Life is funded through a combination of corporate sponsorships, private fee-for-service (for those able to pay), and government contributions. ​Royal Life Saving ACT is very proud of this community initiative and works closely with the children’s services sector in the ACT to ensure Swim 4 Life is accessible to all. Swim 4 Life runs during the January, April and October school holidays in the ACT and is offered to children aged 4 to 12. Children participate in daily sessions that focus on developing vital swimming and water safety skills such as safe entries and exits, breath control, floating, sculling, survival and lifejacket skills, basic rescues and safe behaviours in a range of aquatic environments. ​ In 2016 as part of RLSSA’s ‘Respect the River’ initiative, supported by the Australian Government, the Swim 4 Life program was amended to include sessions that are delivered in open water environments. The aim of the outdoor session is to provide participants with a practical understanding of the risks associated with Canberra’s local lakes and rivers. Royal Life Saving ACT delivers these sessions in controlled environments including publicly accessible swimming areas at Pine Island and Lake Ginninderra. All Swim 4 Life instructors are experienced swim teachers who possess nationally recognised swim teaching, and resuscitation qualifications. Swim4Life COURSE Button